Cambodia is witnessing a promising increase in its population of critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. According to Dith Tina, the nation's minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, the dolphin count has risen to approximately 105 individuals.
This encouraging update was shared during the celebration of the 19th National Fish Day in the Prey Chhor district of southeast Cambodia. Tina highlighted that in the first half of 2024, eight newborn dolphin calves were observed, with only two recorded deaths, marking a positive trend for the species.
The World Wide Fund for Nature and Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration conducted a recent census, estimating the dolphin population at 89 individuals in 2020, within a 95-percent confidence interval of 78-102. The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins, listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2004, inhabit a 180-kilometer stretch of the Mekong River across the northeastern provinces of Stung Treng and Kratie.
\"This is exciting news,\" Tina remarked, underscoring the significance of the population growth for conservation efforts and the overall health of the Mekong River ecosystem.
Reference(s):
Cambodia sees rise in number of endangered freshwater dolphins
cgtn.com
